Valve control mechanism



y 1967 R. M. DENSMORE' VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1965 I NVE N TOR. W M fi'A/SA/d' 1 I J ink-g ut.

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VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I: 26 Z5 I\TT United States Patent O 3,321,990 VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Richard M. Densmore, 9933 McNeruey St., South Gate, Calif. 90280 Filed May 7, 1965, Ser. No. 454,018 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-471) This invention relates to apparatus for selectively actuating one or more valve plungers mounted in a common block. Devices of this type are commonly used in a hydraulic system for operating a plurality of power cylinder assemblies. Such a device is shown in the Clinger man Patent No. 3,131,574, the power cylinder assemblies being operable individually or in any combination for (a) raising and lowering a bulldozer blade, (b) swinging the blade to change is angle of attack, and (c) raising or lowering the ends of the blade to control the tilt thereof.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved form of single-lever control apparatus which may be used to actuate the valve plungers for three power units, either individually or in any combination. It will be understood that this use of the invention is by way of illustration only, and not of limitation.

The objects of the invention are met by employing a single control lever which may be swiveled, that is, turned about its axis, to actuate one of the valve plungers in either direction, through suitable linkage. A sleeve which turnably receives an element fixed to the lever is provided with radially extending trunnions circumferentially spaced 90 apart. Additional linkage means connects each trunnion to actuate one of the other valve plungers, respectively, in either direction, and in this way rocking movement of the control lever about the axis of either trunnion is effective to tilt the other trunnion and thereby actuate its respective valve plunger. There is thus provided a relatively simple construction compact in design and well adapted to withstand rugged service without getting out of order.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation showing a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a multiple plunger assembly for controlling three hydraulic circuits.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partly broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional bottom plan taken substantially on the lines 33 as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 44 as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 55 as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the trunnion-carrying sleeve.

FIGURE 7 shows a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the valve block 10 is of conventional design and has three axially movable parallel valve plungers slidably mounted therein. The valve block employs plungers 11, 12, and 13 which are arranged in a straight line. The upper ends of these three plungers are shown in FIGURE 2. Each plunger is springbiased internally of the block 10 to return to a central position. Each plunger may be moved in either direction from this central position to effect the desired porting.

In accordance with this invention, a stationary base 15 is supported on the block 10 by means of spacer 16 and threaded fasteners 17. As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the base 15 is provided with a bushing 20 for reception of a crankshaft 21 having a crank 22 fixed to the lower end thereof. A retainer rings 23 prevents disassembly. As shown in FIGURE 3, the crank 22 is pivotally connected at 25 to on end of the line 26. The other end of the link 26 is pivotally connected at 27 to the arm 28 of the bell crank generally designated 29. This bell 3,321,990 Patented May 30, 1967 crank 29 is pivotally supported on the base 16 by spaced parallel ears 30 and pivot shaft 31. The crank 22 and its shaft 21 may be considered a first crank member mounted to turn on the base 15 about a vertical axis, and the bell crank 29 may be considered a second crank member pivotally mounted on a base 16 to turn about a horizontal axis.

An arm 33 is pivotally connected by parallel links 34 to the upper end of the plunger 12. From this description, it will be understood that turning movement of the crank 22 is effective to raise and lower the valve plunger 12. A clearance space 35 is provided in the base 16, and the links 34 and arm 33 operate through this space 35. A stub shaft 37 having a smooth outer surface is connected to the upper end of the crankshaft 21 by means of a gimbal joint generally designated 38. This gimbal joint 33 includes the lower bifurcated end 39 on the stud shaft 37, the upper bifurcated end 40 of the crankshaft 21, and the block 41 connected by right-angle pins 42 and 43 to the bifurcated ends 39 and 40. The control lever 45 is fixed at itslower end to the stub shaft 37 by means of the threads 46, nut 47, and retainer ring 48. A control lever 45 and stub shaft 37 thus function as a single integral unit. A T-handle 49 is provided at the upper extending end of the control lever 46.

A sleeve 51 is provided with a bore 52 for turnable reception of the stub shaft 37, and the retainer rings 53 and 48 prevent relative axial movement of the sleeve 51 and stub shaft 37. The sleeve is provided with a pair of radially projecting trunnions 55 and 56 circumferentially spaced 90 apart. Each trunnion is welded or otherwise fixed to the skirt 57 of the sleeve 51. The trunnion 55 extends to a position overlying the valve plunger 11. The trunnion 55 is turnably received in a bore 56 in a block 57, and this block has a pin 58 at right angles to the trunnion 56 which is pivotally connected to upper ends of parallel links 59. The lower ends of these parallel links 59 are pivotally connected at 60 to the upper end of the valve plunger 11. A tubular spacer 62 is provided betwee the sleeve 51 and the block 57. The block 57, trunnion 55,

and crosspin 58 form a universal joint. In a similar man-- valve plunger 13, and a block 61 receives the trunnion 56* and carries a crosspin 62 for connecting the links 63 to the crosspin 64 in the upper end of the trunnion 13. The links 59 operate through clearance opening 65 and the links 63 operate through clearance opening 66.

From this description, it will be understood that when the control lever 45 is moved in a direction to pivot the sleeve 51 about the axis of the trunnion 55, the trunnion 56 is tilted to raise or lower the plunger 13 by means of the block 61 and links 63. Similarly, when the control lever 45 is moved in a direction to cause the sleeve 51 to pivot about the axis of the trunnion 56, the trunnion 55 is tilted to raise or lower the valve plunger 11 by means of the block 57 and parallel links 59. Thus, rocking movement of the control lever 46 and stub shaft 37 and sleeve- 51 about the axis of either trunnion 55 or 56 is efiective to tilt the other trunnion 56 or 55 to actuate either of the two valve plungers 11 or 13. The universal joint pro vided between each trunnion and its associated valve plunger permits the control lever 46 to be tilted in any desired direction to move either or both plungers 11 and 13 simultaneously to the desired position. Moreover, with the sleeve 51 thus tilted in any direction, the control lever 45 may be swiveled, that is, turned about its axis, in either direction to actuate valve plunger 12 as desired. This latter feature is provided by the flexible connection 38 connecting the stub shaft 37 to the crankshaft 21.

In the modified form of my invention shown in FIG- URE 7, the three parallel valve plungers are again mounted in a straight line, but the right-angle trunnions 55a and 56a'are connected to operate adjacent plungers rather than plungers at opposite ends of the series. The third plunger at one end of the series is operated by the bell crank 29a from link 26a. In other respects, the essential constructional features are the same as previously described.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lever control mechanism for three axially movable parallel valve plungers each slidably mounted in a common bock, said mechanism comprising, in combination: a base adapted to be secured to the block, a first crank member mounted to turn on said base about a vertical axis, a second crank member pivotally mounted on said base to turn about a horizontal axis, means including a link connecting said crank members for dependent turning movement, a stub shaft, a flexible joint connecting the stub shaft to said first crank member, a control lever fixed to said stub shaft, a sleeve turnably receiving said stub shaft and provided with a pair of radially projecting trunnions circumferentially spaced 90 apart, each of said trunnions extending to a position overlying one of the valve plungers, respectively, linkage means for connecting each trunnion to actuate one of the valve plungers, respectively, each of said linkage means including a universal joint, and linkage means for connecting said second crank member to operate the third valve plunger, whereby rocking movement of the stub shaft and sleeve by means of the control lever about the axis of either trunnion is effective to tilt the other trunnion to actuate either of two valve plungers, and whereby swivelling of the control lever is effective to turn the stub shaft to actuate the third valve plunger.

2. A lever control mechanism for three axially movable parallel valve plungers each slidably mounted in a common block, said mechanism comprising, in combination: a base adapted to be secured to the book, a first crank member mounted to turn on said base about a vertical axis, a second crank member pivotally mounted on said base to turn about a horizontal axis, means including a link connecting said crank members for dependent turning movement, a stub shaft, means including necting each trunnion to actuate one of the valve plungers, respectively, each of said linkage means including a universal joint, and linkage means for connecting said second crank member to operate the third valve plunger, whereby rocking movement of the stub shaft and sleeve by means of the control lever about the axis of either trunnion is effective to tilt the other trunnion to actuate either of two valve plungers, and whereby swivelling of the control lever is effective to turn the stub shaft to actuate the third valve plunger.

. 3. A lever control mechanism for a series of three axially movable parallel valve plungers each slidably mounted in a common block and arranged in a straight line, said mechanism comprising, in combination: a base adapted to be secured to the block, a first crank member mounted to turn on said base about a vertical axis, a second crank i member pivotally mounted on said base to turn about a horizontal axis, means including a link connecting said crank members for dependent turning movement, a stub.

pair of radially projecting trunnions circumferentially spaced 90 apart, each of said trunnions extending to a position overlying one of the valve plungers, respectively, linkage means for connecting each trunnion to actuate one of the valve plungers at the end of the series, respectively, each of said linkage means including a universal joint, and linkage means for connecting said second crank member to operate the remaining valve plunger whereby rocking movement of the stub shaft and sleeve by means of the control lever about the axis of either trunnion is effective to tilt the other trunnion to actuate either of two valve plungers at the ends of the series and whereby swivelling of the control lever is effective to actuate the remaining valve plunger. 6

4. A lever control mechanism for a series of three axially movable parallel valve plungers each slidably mountedin a common block and arranged in a straight line, said mechanism comprising, in combination: a base adapted to be secured to the block, a first crank member mounted to turn on said base about a vertical'axis, a

tending to a position overlying one of the valve plungers,

respectively, linkage means for connecting each trunnion to actuate one of two adjacent valve plungers in the series, respectively, each of said linkage means including a universal joint, and linkagemeans for connecting said second crank member to operate the third valve plunger at the end of the series, whereby rocking movementof the stub shaft and'sleeve by means of the control lever about the axis of either trunnion is effective to tilt the other trunnion to actuate either of the two adjace'ntvalve plungers, and whereby swivelling of the control lever is" V effective to actuate the third valve plunger at the end of the series. a

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,059,669 4/1913 Henderson 74-525 1,822,082 9/1931 Davis. 2,204,048 6/1940 Phillips- 2,219,601 10/1940 Quartillo. 2,396,309 3/1946 Wodal 74-471 x, 3,131,574 5/1964 Clingerman 137 -636 x,

FOREIGN PATENTS 426,313 10/1947 Italy.

FRED c. MATTERN, IR., Primary Examiner.

C. F. GREEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THREE AXIALLY MOVABLE PARALLEL VALVE PLUNGERS EACH SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN A COMMON BOCK, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A BASE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE BLOCK, A FIRST CRANK MEMBER MOUNTED TO TURN ON SAID BASE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A SECOND CRANK MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE TO TURN ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, MEANS IN CLUDING A LINK CONNECTING SAID CRANK MEMBERS FOR DE PENDENT TURNING MOVEMENT, A STUB SHAFT, A FLEXIBLE JOINT CONNECTING THE STUB SHAFT TO SAID FIRST CRANK MEMBER, A CONTROL LEVER FIXED TO SAID STUB SHAFT, A SLEEVE TURNABLY RECEIVING SAID STUB SHAFT AND PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF RADIALLY PROJECTING TRUNNIONS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED 90* APART, EACH OF SAID TRUNNIONS EXTENDING TO A POSITION OVERLYING ONE OF THE VALVE PLUNGERS, RESPECTIVELY, LINKAGE MEANS FOR CONNECTING EACH TRUNNION TO ACTUATE ONE OF THE VALVE PLUNGERS, RESPECTIVELY, EACH OF SAID LINKAGE MEANS INCLUDING A UNIVERSAL JOINT, AND LINKAGE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND CRANK MEMBER TO OPERATE THE THIRD VALVE PLUNGER, WHEREBY ROCKING MOVEMENT OF THE STUB SHAFT AND SLEEVE BY MEANS OF THE CONTROL LEVER ABOUT THE AXIS OF EITHER TRUNNION IS EFFECTGIVE TO TILT THE OTHER TRUNNION TO ACTUATE EITHER OF TWO VALVE PLUNGERS, AND WHEREBY SWIVELLING OF THE CONTROL LEVER IS EFFECTIVE TO TURN THE STUB SHAFT TO ACTUATE THE THIRD VALVE PLUNGER. 